The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Next year is when fans can judge me as boss
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has called for supporters to judge him in 12 months’ time.
Goodwin knows the Red Army are angry and frustrated after Aberdeen finished 10th in the Premiership.
It is the lowest the Dons have placed in the league since 2004.
The expected new manager bounce following Goodwin’s appointment in mid-February failed to materialise. The ex-St Mirren gaffer has led the Dons to just two wins in his 13 games in charge.
But Goodwin reckons the time to make a call on his management is at the end of the 2022-23 campaign after two transfer windows.
The Reds gaffer will undertake a massive summer squad overhaul.
The 40-year-old is confident he will get Aberdeen back at the top end of the table next season – pushing for Europe. He believes that whether he has delivered on that in a year’s time will be the way to judge his performance.
Goodwin said: “The criticism and frustration from the supporters has been merited and we take that on the chin.
“We are all disappointed with what has happened.
“What I will ask is for them is to judge me in 12 months’ time on how next season goes.
“The reason is we want to make Aberdeen the club it is capable of being and the club it has been in years gone by.
“The supporters are used to this club being up in the top three and four places in the league and competing for Europe annually, and going far in cup competitions.
“That is what I want to bring.
“I’m very, very confident we will get that right.”
The rebuild has already begun with players exiting the club following the end of the season.
One player who has left is club legend Andy Considine who made an emotional bow in the 0-0 draw with St Mirren.
Scotland international Considine, 35, had the offer of a one-year contract extension withdrawn after talks broke down.
Considine led out the Dons at the weekend as captain in his 571st, and final, game for the club.
He was given a guard of honour by both teams and a standing ovation by supporters.
Aberdeen will this week confirm the complete list of players exiting Pittodrie.
As players depart, all focus turns to strengthening for next season.
Goodwin and his team are scouring Europe for summer signing targets.
Head of recruitment Darren Mowbray has recently travelled to Germany, Netherlands Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia in the search for acquisitions.
Aberdeen have active overseas transfer targets for the summer window.
Dons boss Goodwin also recently confirmed he wants to secure Wolves midfielder Connor Ronan in the summer.
Ronan, 24, is contracted to the English Premier League side until summer 2024.
Goodwin took the Republic of Ireland squad player to St Mirren on loan last summer while manager of the Buddies.
He managed Ronan for eight months before moving to Pittodrie in mid February.
Premiership rivals Hearts and Hibernian are also keen on securing the midfielder this summer.
German Bundesliga 2 side FC St Pauli are tracking Ronan, too.
Goodwin is also keen on signing Wigan Athletic’s attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath.
The 25-year-old netted 17 goals from midfield for St Mirren in the 2020-21 season while playing under Goodwin.
Aberdeen attempted to sign McGrath in January during the transfer window.
The Republic of Ireland international turned down an offer from the Dons in preference of a move to eventual English League One winner Wigan.
However, McGrath has struggled to command a regular starting slot at Wigan since his winter window move.
Goodwin has also refused to rule out a move for Ipswich Town keeper Vaclav Hladky.
Ultimately, the Dons boss accepts he has to deliver a summer rebuild that will make Aberdeen a Premiership force again next season.
That is what he will be judged on.
He said: “What I can assure them (supporters) is that there are a really good team of people behind the scenes.
“They are working tirelessly to get things right.
“We have had to tidy up the squad a bit and have had to let a number of individuals go.
“We do it for the right reasons.”